Assisted Living in Alabama (AL)

Alabama has numerous assisted living communities for older adults. These facilities provide many services to senior citizens who need daily help assistance, including help with bathing, dressing, eating and more. Accommodation options in Alabama assisted living facilities include private apartments with up to 2 bedrooms as well as studios. Browse through all assisted living facilities in Alabama below or use our search functionality to locate assisted living near you.

Costs of Assisted Living in Alabama

The cost for an Assisted Living Facility in Alabama averages about $2,900 per month (just under $35,000 per year), although the amount of money for such care increases depending on the services required. This is lower than the national average and lower than most of the neighboring states. However, the costs may increase for residents with Alzheimer's or dementia. Assisted living costs in Alabama are still much lower than the cost of an Alabama nursing home, where semi-private rooms cost $71,175 and a private room is around $75,000 per year.

Assisted Living in Alabama costs more than Adult Day Health Care, which averages around $7,000 per year. Alabama Assisted Living Facilities are more cost-effective than hiring a Home Health Aide which costs, on average $35,000 a year. It is estimated that by the year 2030, Assisted Living in Alabama will cost $52,638 per year – an increase of over $17,000. Some cities in Alabama are more affordable than others when it comes to assisted living. So what are the assisted living costs in Alabama? City by city, from lowest to most expensive, the costs are:

• Gadsden, AL - $1,975 per month
• Dothan, AL - $2,000 per month
• Tuscaloosa, AL - $2,768 per month
• Decatur, AL - $3,000 per month
• Montgomery, AL - $3,079 per month
• Birmingham, AL - $3,081 per month
• Florence, AL - $3,091 per month
• Daphne, AL - $3,600 per month
• Auburn, AL - $3,675 per month
• Huntsville, AL - $3,850 per month
• Mobile, AL - $3,895 per month
• Anniston, AL - $3,930 per month

We can see that there's quite a large difference between the least expensive city, Gadsden and the most expensive one, Anniston - a difference of nearly $2000 per month. For seniors who don't have a large budget for assisted living, Gadsden or Dothan would make an excellent choice. We can also see that Decatur, Montgomery, Birmingham and Florence have nearly identical assisted living costs, with a difference of under $100 per month between all 4.

Programs for Seniors Living in Alabama

Alabama is a state that provides the minimum care needed for its elderly citizens and may be best suited for retirees with a decent amount of retirement money. It is estimated that in 2020 it would cost Alabama Medicaid over $1 billion dollars a year just for bed space in nursing homes.

There is a program called State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) which helps Alabama seniors get:

• Answers to queries in regard to Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, Long-term care insurance options, and other health insurance programs for Alabama seniors;
• Informational resources that are created to help Alabama seniors with Medicare with certain things such as home health benefits, Medicare claims and appeals;
• Assistance with understanding of the Medicare program and other health insurance benefits;
• Referral services for other agencies or programs, when necessary; and
• Health insurance related group presentations conducted by SHIP counselors.

There are also Energy Assistance Programs in Alabama to help Alabama seniors with the cost of heating and cooling. These programs include:

• The Alabama Weatherization Assistance Program tries to reduce energy costs for low-income seniors and families by improving the energy efficiency of their homes. This program is an income-based program where the applicant’s income must not exceed 200% of the federally established poverty level. While it is available to everyone in Alabama with that income level, it is particularly for seniors, those with disabilities, and families with children; and
• The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a program that contracts with local nonprofit agencies to help low-income seniors and families living in Alabama meet the costs of home energy, increase their energy self-sufficiency, and reduce their vulnerability resulting from energy needs.

There are over 350 Senior Centers all over Alabama where older people are welcome to go, where programs, as well as meals, are offered on an on-going basis. They have a “Meals on Wheels” program for seniors 60 and over, those married to someone 60 and over, or living with a disabled person who is homebound. There is also the Alabama SenioRx Prescription Assistance program which provides free or low cost drugs to Alabama seniors aged 55 and older, for those with disabilities, and for those who are diagnosed with a chronic medical condition that requires daily medication.

In Alabama, the local Area Agencies on Aging are valuable resources for seniors and their families regardless of living conditions, as they can answer specific questions as well as being the gatekeepers for most of these programs. The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) can be reached at: 1-800-AGE-LINE.

Who pays for Assisted Living Care in Alabama?

Most Assisted Living care is paid for privately by either the resident or their families. The Alabama Medicaid program offers Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers to provide help to older people either in their home or in the community to try and prevent or delay nursing home placement. Each program has eligibility requirements, including asset and income qualifications. As of last year, for example, a single elderly applicant must have a monthly income less than $2,199 to meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid. Additionally, there is also a resource limit of $2,000 (although household goods, personal effects, and some property is exempt.) If you are planning to apply for Medicaid in Alabama, you should contact an Alabama Medicaid planner before you apply.

There are three Medicaid assistance programs offered, including the State Medicaid Plan:

• Alabama offers the Elderly and Disabled (E & D) Medicaid Waiver to provide services to elderly or disabled individuals who would otherwise require nursing facility care to remain at home or in the community. Additionally, it offers aid to those seniors who currently reside in a nursing home to transition back to living within the community.
• The State of Alabama Independent Living (SAIL) Medicaid Waiver, which was previously known as the Homebound Waiver, is designed to help disabled people move back to or remain living in their homes or communities rather than a skilled nursing facility.
• The Personal Choices Program is offered in seven counties of Western Alabama and two counties of Southern Alabama. This is a program that allows seniors and disabled individuals who receive services under the E & D Waiver or the SAIL Waiver the option to manage their care providers and is a self-directed care program.

Pros and Cons of Senior Living in Alabama

Alabama is a diverse state with mountains as well as the coast, so when you are a senior and you are choosing a place to live, you should consider your options. There are many historic places in Alabama, and it is also the site of many Civil War battles and events. The state played a crucial role in the Civil Rights movement with the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the march from Montgomery to Selma, as well as the 16^th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram State Park. Some of the most visited attractions in Alabama include: the U.S. Space and Rocket Center; Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail; Birmingham Zoo; USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, McWane Science Center, Point Mallard Park; Huntsville Botanical Garden; Montgomery Zoo; and the National Voting Rights Museum. Furthermore, there are now cruise lines that leave from the Port of Mobile. You should never find yourself lacking things to do in this state when you are a senior who lives in Alabama.

Here are some things to consider when choosing where to retire in Alabama:

• Beautiful beaches and other outdoor activities – the beaches in Alabama are spectacular and offer oceanfront life at a fraction of the cost that you would find in other states. Alabama is also well known for the “Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail” which is a collection of 11 different championship courses totaling 468 holes;

• Low cost of senior living – Alabama’s overall cost of living is 12% below average and even living on the coast is considerably cheaper for seniors than it would in neighboring Florida;

• Healthcare around your area – Alabama does have some top-notch health care facilities for seniors such as the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham and the Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan;

• Low cost of senior health care – we’ve discussed the cost of assisted living facilities in Alabama which is significantly less than other parts of the country;

• Poverty – Alabama has a higher poverty and obesity level than the rest of the United States. The health care is good, if you can afford it and you can access it, unfortunately not all residents are able to do so; and

• Taxes – Alabama has a higher sales tax at 7.5% than the U.S. average and has a state income tax as well.

The climate of Alabama is classified as humid subtropical – meaning it has hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters, with monthly average temperatures above 64° F. Some seniors living in Alabama may not be comfortable with the humid summers, however others can tolerate the humidity without issues. Temperatures are usually warmer in the Southern part of the state due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, and the northern parts of the Alabama tend to be somewhat cooler.

Alabama summers are hot and humid with temperatures averaging over 90° F, and the state receives an average of 56 inches of rainfall annually on average. Alabama has the most EF5 tornadoes of any state and is also prone to hurricanes and tropical storms.

Winters are generally mild and snow is a rare event in much of the state, although a few times every winter there is a dusting of snow, and occasional heavy snow every few years.

Don't see your city/town/village on the list? Please use our search bar at the top of the page to search through 528 senior living options from 156 cities, towns and villages in Alabama. Simply enter your city name or zip code.